The Climate Action Area brings Energy Saving Certificates closer to the local world with the support of Next Diba - Next diba

19/06/2026 10:39 h.

The Climate Action Area brings Energy Saving Certificates closer to the local world with the support of Next Diba

This support, promoted by the Climate Action and Energy Transition Area in collaboration with the Fundraising and Funds Management Support Service, Next Diba, begins with the presentation of the “Methodological guide for monetising energy savings generated by the public sector based on the Energy Saving Certificates (CAE) system”. The publication aims to help local authorities make use of this mechanism and, in the medium term, turn energy savings into financial income.

CAE are a tool linked to energy efficiency policies. In practice, they make it possible to certify the energy savings generated by specific actions, such as renewing public lighting, improving the energy efficiency of municipal buildings or installing more efficient equipment. Once these savings have been certified, they may be monetised, generating a financial return that can help fund new actions.

With this initiative, the corporation is taking a step towards bringing CAE closer to the local sphere and helping municipalities gradually incorporate them into their energy policies. So far, Barcelona Provincial Council has already begun to include CAE calculations in some executive projects, such as public lighting renewal projects or heat pump installations, with the aim of progressively extending this practice to more municipalities.

The rollout of the support system for local authorities will include practical tools and technical assistance to facilitate the identification, management and potential monetisation of energy savings. The plan is to offer this technical support over the course of next year, especially to municipalities with more limited technical capacity.

The planned resources include step-by-step manuals, model tender documents for auctions, clauses to incorporate CAE into public procurement processes and direct advisory support. The aim is to provide local councils with a clear methodology and practical tools to identify when an action can generate certifiable savings, how these savings should be processed and how they can ultimately be turned into new financial resources.

In parallel, Barcelona Provincial Council is working to monetise its own investments in energy efficiency in its facilities and vehicle fleet. It is also working to create a shared framework with other public administrations and sector stakeholders to extend the model and enable more municipalities to explore this mechanism.

This line of action is part of a broader transformation of European energy policies, in which CAE are emerging as a new way to obtain financial returns from energy efficiency projects. In some cases, especially in actions with short payback periods, this mechanism can complement traditional grants.

The methodological guide compiles and systematises knowledge about CAE with the aim of facilitating their practical application by municipalities. The publication explains how they work and provides guidance on how to apply them in areas such as public lighting and the energy renovation of buildings.

With this new publication, Barcelona Provincial Council takes another step towards providing municipalities with concrete tools that enable them to move towards a more efficient, sustainable and financially viable energy model.